Burner



W. J. SMITH ETAL BURNER Jan. 13, 1953 Filed March 14, 1947 s V.. E N R O l T A INVENTORS 'Villiam L Smith Jan. 13, 1953 Y J. SMITH r-:TAL

BURNER I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 14, 1947 hu uw msm Tw. fm m A W mmv, B .7

Jan. 13, 1953 w..1. SMITH ET Al.A

BURNER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 14, 1947 INVENTORS William J- Shui-bk Willi-am W'. Slaght Patented Jan. 13, 1953 BURNER William J. Smith and William W. Slaght, Rocky River, Ohio, assignors to Cleveland Steel Products Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 14, 1947, Serial No. 734,765

/ 9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to fuel feeders for liquid fuel burners and more particularly to burners of the wall flame type.

Important objects of the present invention are to provide a fuel feeder that is capable of` delivering fuel without fluctuations throughout a l wide range of rates of fuel delivery and which is adapted to deliver fuel uniformly in starting so that fuel is not wasted when the burner is frequently started and stopped by thermostatic control. A

It is also an object of the invention to provide a feeder of simple and economical construction, that is easy to install and in which the parts are readily accessible and easily removable for replacement and repair.

A further object is to provide improved means for regulating the air supply, particularly when fuel is being delivered at a slow rate.

A further object is to provide means for delivering liquid fuel in exceedingly ne streams into the air streams directed toward the flame ring.

An additional object of the invention is to provide improved lubrication for the rotor shaft so that rotation thereof is not impededby solidification of lubricant during long periods of idleness such as may occur in summer months.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a fuel feeder having all parts so mounted that they may be removed through the hearth openmg.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said -to comprise the fuel feeder as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims, together with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the base of the furnace, showing the fuel feeder of the present invention ins-talled therein;

Fig. 2 is a vertical axial section through the fuel feeder taken on the line indicated at 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line indicated at 3--3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the line indicated at 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the rotating unit with the fan removed;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section through the shaft bearing similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but on an enlarged scale;

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the bearing disk upon which the distributor head is supported;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section through the fuel pump similar to the section shown in Fig. 2 but on a larger scale;

Fig. 9' is a fragmentary top plan view of the rotating unit, and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the fan with a portion broken away and showing the discharge end of one of the fuel delivering tubes in section.

In the accompanying drawings the fuel feeder of the present invention is shown installed in a furnace of conventional construction having an upright enclosing wall I and a horizontal hearth 2 spaced above the floor upon which the furnace is mounted. A flame ring 3 of conventional construction is shown mounted upon the top of the hearth 2, spaced inwardly a short distance from the wall I and surrounding a central opening 4 in the hearth. The opening 4 receives the upper outlet end 5 of a fuel feeder housing 6. The outlet 5 of the housing is of smaller diameter than the body of the housing and is preferably tapered toward its upper end. The housing 6 is provided with a base 1 tha-t carries suitable adjustable legs 8 by means of which the housing may be supported in xed position on the oor beneath the hearth of the furnace.

The lower portion of the housing B has a front half 9 that is removable to afford convenient access to the lower portion thereof. The detachable section 9 is provided with louvers in to permit free entry of air and is detachably held in place by thumb nuts I I on threaded studs Ila carried by strips I2 welded to the side edges of the section 9 which are adapted to flt against the interior of the sidesof the fixed portion of the housing which are slotted to receive the studs Ila. Above the detachable section S the housing 6 is provided With a horizontal partition I3 which carries a central supporting collar I4 that is composed of an outer flanged ring I5 supported upon the partition and a rubber cushioning sleeve I6 that is interposed between the body of the collar I4 and the ring I5 and bonded to both. The collar I4 serves as a support for the fuel feeding mechanism and the rubber cushioningsleeve I5 interposed between the body of the collar and the partition member serves to reduce the transmission of audible vibrations to the housing.

'the socket |9'as in 'the'well 20.

The collar I4 receives the lower end of a supporting standard which is slidable vertically in the collar |4 and which is supported in adjusted positions by means of a screw I8 carried by the collar I4. The standard |1 is provided with anaxial bearing socket I9 which opens to the upper end thereof and which'extends to-vnear the lower end of the standard, and adjacent its upper end the standard is provided with an annular upwardly opening recess 2U forming a fuel well surrounding the upper portion of the socket |9. The lower end of the standard which projects below the collar yItlisprovided with y'a threaded socket 2| which receives 'ailtting "2.2 through which fuel maybe delivered fto the standard, the socket 2| forming the lowerpart of a longitudinal passage 23 whichl-exten'ds'upwardly to the bottom of the fuel well 20. 'A branch passage 24 extends from-the socket 2| to'thelower end of the bearing socket I9 in which a shaft 25 whichsupports'the fuellifting anddistribu'ting "means is j ournaled so as to maintainthe' liquid which serves as a lubricant 'at theisaime level in The fuel supply is controlled 'by'a suitable'valve mechanism (not shown), as is common'practice in'theart, to maintain the proper fuel flow to the fuel well. The major portion of the lerigthof the bearing socket i9 is below tlie fuel well 2li and oil delivered through the fitting 22 and'maintained at the same level as in the fuel'well effectivelylubricates the Ashaft 25 at all'times.Y The'lubricant maintained to a high level in the bearing socket will prevent the .solidiication of the `lubricant and the sticking of the shaft'when thefeeder'remains idle for long periods' of time as may occur during summer months.

A'sleeve |9a 'of brass/orother suitable bearing metal is mounted in the'socket'lS. The sleeve |9a is preferably permanentlyv 'secured to the body 'of I the standard 'which maybe' 'die cast around 'the sleeve.

The shaft^25 has a cap"2'6attached toits upper lend and the cap Zthas'aY cylindrical'downwardly extending skirt 27 which surrounds 'I the upper endof the standard Vwhich isialsocylndrical -in form. A4Theshaft 25 projectsthroug'h the top of the cap 25 and supports a'horizontally disposed disk 28 thathas a central depressedV portion 29 to which is attached a hubprovided with'a' socket that ts the upper end of the'shaft 25 "to which it is detachably secured by Vsuitable 'meanssuch as aset'screw 3|. The `dis'k28`is of 'a'diameter slightlygreater thanthe diameter of the opening "4 in the hearth-and carries fan blades-32 that are `mounted within the cap 25 with its upper end fitting within the `cylinder skirt 21 and its lower smaller'end-extending into :the vfuel 'well 20. One ormore fuelidelivery tubes 34-areper manently attached vto the cap 126 vby suitable means such asdie casting,brazin'g, solderingor sweating, and open 4into the interiorthereof above Athe upper end of the'lifft' cone `lf-to--receive fuel elevated 'by the vcone,l`and-tl`1ese tubes have `substantially horizontal -endportions 35 which are disposed substantially ra'cliallyv beneath the disk 28 and which terminate adjacentlthelperipheryz of the disk to discharge the fuel into the air stream.

The distributor head assembly consisting of the shaft 25, the cap 26, the lift cone 33, the disk 28, fan blades 32 and delivery tubes 34, is removaole bodily from the supporting standard, and is assembled withthe stationaryfelements by placing `the`lower end of the shaft 25 in thesocket I9 and lowering the head to operative position. Since the distributor head assembly can be revleased and allowed to fall into place as soon as the shaft 25 is entered into the socket IS, it is fdesirable'thatfaresilient support for the head be :provided "to prevent damage to the mechanism "d'ueto impactwhen the head is allowed to iall into place. To this end the lower end of the shaft 25:is -.provided with an axial socket 35 in which ismounted a 'bearing ball 31 that is backed "by"ac'oil spring 38 mounted in the socket, which .presses the ball against a restriction 39 formed by upsetting ltheV lower' end Aof. the shaft .to reduce thedameter of'tlielowerlend of .thesocket sufli ciently to prevent the ball.3'| from .falling rout *of vthefs'o'ckety-the restriction 3S being'such that '-a'substaritial portion'of the ball which is pressed downwardly bythe spring 38 normally projects 'past' the lower end f the shaft. The bearing ball `S'I/ifestsiup'on 'a hardenedbearing disk'!) mounted in-the' lower end of the socket |9, the bearing disk '4Ufbein'gprovided`wth a' notch 4| which partially overlaps the axial oil passage 24 so as not to obstruct the'flowfof lubricant tothe socket |9. 'The disk'has atltop and bottom faces and is of a 'thickness such that it can be entered into the `socket I9 onlywhen' the axis of the disk is alined with the axis of the socket. By'so dimensioning the bearing disk it can bei placed in the upper end Sof the-socket .I9 andallowed to. fall by gravity to the lower :end of Vthe -socket,1and since the disk fcannotiturnabouta transverse? axis 'within the zsocket. itwillalwavs fall into proper position.

The idstributor .head is .preferably driven by an electric motor which is built up around-the standard :andwhichincludes-:afrotor 42Y of cy- 'lindrical'form whichisf attachedby means ofbolts 43 to '-aiiange 44 atzthe lower end of. thezskirtZ'I. Therotorf42 .is surrounded by an annular stator 45 -thatiis attached by means of rivets'll' to a spider '-41 that isattac'hedby'bolts 48 to a flange -49 on thestandard Vadjacent the lower end .thereof above lthecollar I4. Suitable clearance is provided between the rotor 42 and the xed @standard `|.|,=and betweenthe rotor 42 and the fl-xedfstator 45.toa1low forcirculation of air through the motor during operation.

Theskirt 2. preferablylprojects belowthe fuel Vwell 20iand the Ybearing standard Il which projects through the rotor and stator is of a length Ysuchthatthe bearing socket for the distributor shaft can be made of a depth suflicient to enable 'the shaft to be effectively lubricated by the liquid fuels'upplied through the passage 24.

The fuel well 20 is of annular form and its inner Wallis formed by la cylindrical portion 5|) of the standard |'l which surrounds the upper endof the socket |9. Intermediate the top and bottom thereof, the `well isprovided adjacent its outer 'Wall5 witha' horizontal ledge or shoulder 52 and the lower portion of the well below the shoulder '52 Ais` provided with a tapering outer wall 53 shaped to conform-to -the lower end of the lift cone 33. The wall 53 .provides a narrow space around the eXteriOrof-the lower portion of the .lifter conek 33 fexcept.foriarecess 54 directly' above the passage 23 which servesto breakrthe .con-

` the flow of air.

tinuity of the annular space between the tip of the lifter cone and the wall 53. The small clearance between the wall 53 and the cone 33 together with the recess 54 so affects the fuel flow that fluctuations in the level of the liquid in starting and during rotation are substantially eliminated and fuel is lifted by the cone from the well at a substantially uniform rate without surging.

The lift cone 33 is provided with a thickened upper end 55 that ts within the skirt 21 beneath a shoulder 56 in the upper portion of the cap 26,

the internal diameter of the cap above the shoulder 56 being substantially the same as the internal diameter of the upper end of the lift cone 33 so that the interior of the cone conforms at its top edge to the interior of the cap above the shoulder 56.

To obtain vefficient delivery of fuel, it is desirable that the delivery tubes 34 open into the interior of the cap at points radially outwardly of the interior of the lift cone 33 and in order to so place the delivery tubes and to avoid restriction of the outlets into the tubes, recesses 51 are formed on the interior of the cap above the shoulder 56 to permit free access of liquid into the tubes 34. The diameter of the upper end of the well 2D is suiicient to admit the upper end portion of the lift cone 33 with a small clearance, and since the skirt 21 is spaced slightly from the exterior of the standard I1, the oil within the well is subjected to atmospheric pressure. There is some tendency for liquid to creep up the exterior of the lift cone, and in order to prevent leakage of liquid through the opening between the skirt and the standard a groove 58 is formed in the exterior of the cone 33 which limits the ow of liquid along the external surface of the lift cone, causing the liquid that reaches the groove to be thrown outwardly against the wall 5I below the top thereof, thereby preventing escape of fuel over the top edge of the wall 5 I.

The discharge ends 59 of the delivery tubes 34 are preferably beveled as shown in Figs. 2 and 9, the beveled faces being disposed vertically and facing in the direction of rotation so that the sharp end of the bevel forms the trailing edge of the delivery end of the tube. By so forming the delivery ends of the tubes a tapering channel is 4 provided at the delivery end of each against which the liquid fuel is held while its radial flow is accelerated due to centrifugal force so that it is delivered into the air stream in a fine stream from each tube.

During the operation of the burner air is drawn by the fan blades 32 upwardly through the housi ing 6 and discharged radially toward the flame ring 3. It is important forv efficient operation, particularly when the feeder is operated to provide a slow rate of fuel delivery, that the volume of air discharged with the fuel be very accurately regulated. To this end a damper is provided in the partition I3 which is adjustable to regulate The partition I3 is provided with openings 66 of substantial size which may be sector-shaped as shown in Fig. 3 and these openings cooperate with registering openings 6I in a disk 62 that is mounted to turn on the collar I4 immediately beneath the partition I3. The disk 62 turns from a position in which the openings oxygen a small opening 63 is provided the diskV 7 62 which registers with one of the openings 60 1n the partition I3 when the disk is vadjusted to closed position. In order to conveniently adjust the disk 62, a handle 64 is attached to the disk and projects radially through a slot 65 in the housing 6. The handle 64 has a knob 64a at its outer end that is threaded on the handle so that it can be screwed into engagement with the housing wall to hold the disk in adjusted positions.

The partition I3 has a downwardly extending peripheral flange 66 that is attached to the housing wall and may be provided with radial stiffening ribs 61 between the openings 60.

The disk 62 is provided at its periphery with a short downturned ange 68 which rests upon spaced clips 69 which support the disk against the under side of the partition I3. The clips 69 are L-shaped sheet metal members held in place by bolts 16 with one flange vertical and engaging the under side of the partition I3 and the other flange horizontal and engaging the flange 68 of the disk.

When fuel is being delivered at a slow rate it is desirable that an accurately regulated amount of air be delivered to the fuel and to obtain such accurate regulation of the air supply the leading ends of the openings 6I of the disk are tapered as indicated at 'II so that a substantial amount of movement of the disk is required to effect a small change in the area of the air passages through the partition, and accurate regulation of air flow can be obtained by angular adjustments of the disk 62.

The flow of air through the housing is so directed as to effectively cool the electric driving motor, the air flowing upwardly through the housing 6 above the partition I3, flowing through the annular spaces between the rotor 42 and the standard I'I and between the rotor 42 and the stator 45. In order to permit the flow of air between the rotor 42 and the standard I1, the skirt 21 is provided with slots 12 permitting flow of air between the rotor and standard in the direction in which air is drawn by the fan.

The fuel feeder of the present invention is so constructed that all working parts may be readily removed from the housing and reassembled in the housing without disturbing the housing itself which may be permanently fixed with respect to the hearth of the furnace. As has been explained, the distributor unit can be lifted out of the bearing standard whenever desired. The standard I1 and stator 45 can also be lifted bodily through the hearth opening when the screw I8 is loosened and the tting 22 detached, since the external diameter of the rotor 4'2 is less than the diameter of the upper end of the housing outlet 5. In assembling, the lower end of the standard I1 may be inserted into the collar I4 and secured by the screw I8, after which the distributor head may be lowered into place and the fuel supply line connected to the tting 22. After assembly, the standard I1 together with the fuel feeding mechanism carried thereby can be readily adjusted to position the fan and fuel delivery outlets at the proper height with respect to the flame rings.

It is to be understood that variations and modiflcations of the specific devices herein shown and described for purposes of illustration, may 'be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. A fuel feeder for liquid fuel burners comprising a stationary standard having an annular recess in its upper end forming a fuel well and 7 anelongatedaxialbearingsocket within; the Well, Said Socket. having an openA upper end and a bottomI aboveY thelowerfend of the standard, the major portion of the length of said socket being below said well andthe top of said. socket beingno higher than the top of said well, means for; supplying liquid to said well and to said socket including apassage in said-standard communicating with both the -wellandsaid socket to normally maintain liquid at the vsame level in the weiland socket, ashaft mounted in said socket and having a continuous bearing surface therein that extends downwardly from adjacent the upper end of said socket, means carried by the shaft for 'lifting liquid lfrom said well and discharging the same radially, and means for driving saidshaft, said bearing surface .extending uninterruptedly lfromwabove to a point below the lower end of saidV feeding means, whereby liquid maintained in said well at a level up to the lower'end of said feeding means will at least partially submerge said bearing surface 2. A fuel, feeder for liquid fuel burners cornprising a supporting member formed to provide a fuel reservoir and having an elongated axial open top vertical bearing socket, a shaft journaled in said socket and supported on the bottom thereof, said shaft being removable vertically from said socket and having an axial socket at its lower end, means for driving said shaft, means carried Ysolely lby said shaft and removable therewith from said supporting member for elevatingliquid from said reservoir and discharging the same, and means for yieldably supporting said shaft comprising a bearing ball mounted in saidl shaft socket and a spring in said shaft socket exerting a downward pressure on the ball.

'3. A fuel feeder for liquid fuel burners comprising a supporting-member formed to provide a fuel reservoir and having an elongated axial open top vertical bearing socket, a shaft journaled in said socket and supported on the bottom thereof, said shaft being removable vertically from said' socket and having an axial socket at its lower end, means for driving said shaft, means carried solely'by said shaft and removable therewith from said supporting member for elevating liquid from said reservoir and discharging the same, a bearing block seated upon the bottom of said socket and free from attachment to the standard, a ball mounted for vertical movement in the shaft socket, and a spring in the shaft socket exerting a downward pressure upon said ball and an upward pressure on the shaft to hold the ball against said block and'to yieldably support the shaft with its lower end spaced from said block.

4. A fuel feeder for liquid fuel burners comprising a bearing standard having van open top fuel well and -an elongated axial bearing socket opening'to its upper end, a shaft journaled in said socket and having an axial socket at its lower end, means for driving said shaft, means carried by said shaft for elevating liquid from said well and discharging the same, a free bearing block of slightly less diameter than said shaft and lying upon thebottom of said bearing socket, said block having fiat top and bottom faces either of which is adapted to seat upon the bottom of the socket in the standard and of an axial thickness such that it cannot enter the socket of the standard except with its axis alined with the axis of, .the Socket, and recallsv forV yieldablv supportging;y said ishaft, comprising a` bearing ball mounted insaidshaftfsocket `and a spring exerting a downward pressure on said ball.

5. A- fuel feeder for liquid fuel, burners comprising a standardhaving an open top fuel well and an elongated axial bearing socket opening to its upper end, the major portion of the said socket being belowv said well, a shaft journaled in said socket, means for supplying liquid to said well and to said shaft receiving socket including a passage in said standard leading to said well and a branch passage to the bottom of saidshaft receiving socket, means carried by said shaft for elevating liquid from said well and discharging the same, a bearing block resting upon the bottom of said socket and having a lslot registering with said branch passage, and means for yieldably supporting said shaft including :a spring pressed bearing ball, mounted in the lower, end ofsaidshaftk and resting upon said block.

6. A fuel feeder for liquid fuel burners comprisingV a head rotatable about an upright axis, said head having a concentric hollow downwardly tapering fuel lifter having a tubular tip that is circular in horizontal cross section and a plurality of distributor tubes through which the fuel is discharged, a stationary member having `a fuel well into which said lifter extends, said well having a restricted tapering lower portion which conformsto the shape of the lifter and receives the tip of the lifter and a shoulder at the top of the restricted portion, said restricted portion having a peripheral recess opening to said shoulder, means for supplying fuel to said well, and means for driving said head.

7. A fuel feeder for liquid fuel burners comprising a head rotatable about an upright axis, said head having a concentric hollow downwardly tapering fuel lifter and a plurality of distributor tubes through which the fuel is discharged, said lifter having an external circumferential groove intermediate its ends to impede thelow of liquid, a stationary member having a fuel well into whichV said fuel lifter dips, said well having a `restricted lower portion to receive the tip of said lifter and an upright wall surrounding the lifter to above said groove,.means.for supplying liquid fuel to said well, and means for driving said head.

8. A fuel feeder for liquid fuel burners comprising a housing having an outlet at its top adapted to deliver air through a hearth opening, said housinghaving an air inlet and a partition above said inlet provided with a set of spaced openings for passage of air, fuel feeding means including a distributor head rotatably mounted in the housing above said partition, a fan carried by said headv for drawing air upwardly through said housing and means for delivering liquid fuel to said head, an adjustable closure member havmg .a set of spaced openings certain` of which register with certain of the partition openings in one position of the closure member and are completely out ofregistry therewith in another position of the closure member, one of the openings of one set being relatively small and positioned to register with one of the openings of the other set when the partition and closure members are positioned with, all of the other Openings therein completely, out of, registry.

9, A fuel feeder for liquid fuel burners comprising a housing having an outlet at its top adapted to deliver air through a, hearthA opening, Saidhopsng having anair inlet. and a partition above said inlet, saidy partitionhavinga set of spaced .openings for passage v.or air,.a.,fue1 wel1 m said housing, a distributor head rotatably 9 mounted in the housing above said partition and having a fuel lifter extending into said Well, a fan carried by said head for drawing air upwardly through said housing, and an adjustable closure member in the form of an adjustable plate carried by said partition member, said plate having a set of openings certain of which are positioned to move simultaneously into and out of registry with certain of the partition openings, all but one of the openings of one of said sets being adapted to be simultaneously moved into and out of registry with openings of the other set and being elongated vand tapered toward the end thereof last closed by movement of said plate, whereby substantial movements of the plate are required for slight variations in air flow in low volume positions of the plate, said one opening being relatively small and positioned to be uncovered by one of the openings in the other set when all of the other openings of the plate and partition are out of registry.

WILLIAM J. SMITH. WILLIAM W. SLAGH'I.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

